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C. P. LAUPER.

CORSET CLASP.

' Patented-Ju1y 24, 1883;

WITNBSSES: l

ATTORNEY I Oy ' UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE).

CHRISTIAN F. LAUFER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND PAUL GOEPEL, OF SAME PLACE.

CORSET-CLASP.

` SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 281,771, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed December 1G, 1882. (Model.)

T0 a/ZZ w/Lont 1lb may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, CHRIs'rIAN FRIEDRICH LAUFER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corset-Clasps, of which the following is a specication.

The object of this invention is to furnish for corsets an improved clasp, by which the corset may be conveniently opened to some eX- tent, whenever desired, over the stomach and abdomen, for the purpose of relieving these parts from undue pressure without requiring the opening ofthe dress. The corset may likewise be readily closed again when a tight fit is desired.

This invention relates to a corset-clasp on busk or steel of which has at its upper terminal a clasp with a downwardly-eXtending slot, and below the same clasps of gradually-increasing width, having shoulders and arcshaped slots of the busk or steel. -The uppermost clasp is provided with a pivoted lockinghook, which, when placed over the uppermost stud of the second busk, locks the studs against the shoulders of the clasps, while, when the pivot-hook is released, the studs of the second busk are allowed to slide along the extensionslot of the uppermost clasp and along arcshaped slots of the lower clasps, so that the busks are allowed to separate from each other as far as the slots will permit. The arc-shaped slots of the lower clasps are provided near their outer ends with segmental enlargements to facilitate the opening of the corset. And the invention consists in the devices hereinafter more fully described and particularly combined, as set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 represent front elevations of my improved corset-clasp, showing the clasp, respectively, in closed and open position. Figs. 3 anda are a detail front elevation and a vertical transverse section of my improved corsetclasp in open position. Figs. 5 and G are respectively detail views of the uppermost and lowermost clasps of the busks, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line y y, Fig. 8.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A in the drawings represent the corset busks or steels, which are connected at their The lower clasps, a c, are provided with shoulders b at the ends of the horizontal slots, and with lateral arc-shaped slots b2 in continuation of the horizontal slots. 'Io the upper part of any one of the clasps, preferably to the uppermost clasp, a, is applied a pivoted lockinghook, d, having a projecting stud or button, cl, which hook engages the uppermost stud- I) of the busk A when all the studs are inserted into the clasps, and locks them in position on 7o the shoulders b of the clasps, as shown in Fig. l. In this position the corset is tightly closed. The locking-hook d is provided with shoulders or projections d2, as shown in Fig. 5, which projections take against a fixed pin, e, 7 5 of the clasp a when the hook is thrown up or dropped. The shoulders (Z2 and stop-pin e prevent the hook from interfering with the entrance or release of the stud b, as the horizontal part of the slot of the `clasp a is always 8o kept clear of the hook d.

Whenever it is desired to widen the corset, so as to relieve the stomach and abdomen of pressure, the locking-hook d of the uppermost clasp, a, is pushed sidewise by one of the fingers, and thereby released from the uppermost stud b. rIhe other studs b will then be free to slide along the arc-shaped slots b2 until they arrive at the outer ends of said slots, so as to admit thereby the spreading apart of 9o the busks to the full width of the clasps c c. The uppermost stud b of the busk A is retained at the end of the extension-slot of the uppermost clasp, a, which point forms the center around which the remaining studs 9 5 swing when the busks are spread apart. The corset is preferably provided with a busk-protector, C, consisting of a thin plate of steel or other metal, whereby the busks can be closed when the corset is to be tightened again with- 10o out causing any part of the clothing to catch between the busks. Vhen the studs of the second busk, A, are returned to the shoulders ai and b of the clasps a and a', the lockinghook d is dropped, so as to engage the uppermost stud, whereby the busks are reliably again into their normal position. To facilitate the opening ofthe corset in removing the same, the lower clasps, a', are provided near the outer ends of their arc-shaped slots b2 with segmental recesses b, which serve as eyes for allowing the studs to escape without returning the busk A into the horizontal portions of the slots ofthe clasps. The widening of the corset is almost instantly accomplished by releasing the locking-hook from the uppermost stud, as the tension on the busks causes them to spread apart the moment their connection is released.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. As an improvement in corset-clasps, the combination of a busl; provided with clasps of gradually-increasing width, said clasps having shoulders and extension-slots, with a second busk having interlocking studs, and with means whereby the studs are locked against the shoulders of the clasps, or released therefrom, so as to pass to the extremities of the slots, substantially as set forth.

2. As an improvement in corset-clasps, the combination of a busk, A, having a clasp, a, with shoulder and extension-slot a3 and lower clasps, a a, of gradual]y-increasing width, provided with shoulders b and extension-slots b2, in combination with a second busk, A, having studs b, and with a pivoted lockinghook, d, applied to one ofthe clasps, substantially as speciiied.

3. As an improvement in corset-clasps, the combination ofthe busk having slotted clasps a and a, of gradual]y-increasing width, busk A', having locking-studs Z1, and alocking-hook, d, pivoted to one of the clasps, and having shoulders d2, abutting against a stop-pin, c, of the clasp, substantially as specified.

4:. As an improvement in corset-clasps, the busk A, provided with a series of clasps having extension-slots gradually increased in length from the upper clasp to the lower one, to admit of the expansion of the lower part of the corset, said slot being provided with shoulders and recesses, substantially as described.

5. As an improvement in corset-clasps, a busk, A, having an uppermost clasp, a., and lower clasps, a a, of increasing width, the uppermost clasp having a shoulder, a2, and straight extension-slot ai', and the lower clas as, a a, having shoulders b and arc-shaped cxtension-slots b`, substantially as described.

6. As an improvement in corset-clasps, a

bush, A, having au uppermost clasp, a, aud

lower clasps, a a, of increasing width, the uppermost clasp, a, having a shoulder, a2, and straight extension-slot a, the lower clasps having shoulders b, arc-shaped extension-slots and segmental recesses b: near the ends of the slots, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN FR. LAUFER.

Titnessesz CARL Kaur, SIDNEY MANN. 

